Late to the party, but the current answers don't really highlight a vital safety point for solo hikers.

The risks of solo hiking have been transformed by the advent of PLBs (Personal Location Beacons). These are handheld units that transmit your rescue request and precise location via satellite to an international Rescue Control Center which will quickly alert your local Search and Rescue service.

In the past, as a solo walker all you could do was leave your route. If you became incapacitated on a multi-day trip, it might take days before SAR were alerted, and additional time for them to find you. Now the rescue can be alerted literally within minutes and they know exactly where you are.

Of course there is still the risk that you could become totally incapacitated and unable to activate the PLB, so it's still important to leave your route. But for the great majority of incidents a PLB will result in much quicker rescue, with much less inconvenience and risk to the SAR personnel.

If you are walking solo in wild country I feel that a PLB is pretty much a requirement these days, or at least a Garmin inReach (a less reliable but more flexible alternative). If you won't carry one for yourself and your loved ones, consider the SAR personnel who have to risk their lives and give up their time to find you.

Of course the PLB is no substitute for proper experience, planning and equipment as outlined in the other answers. But it is an important element of responsible back-country travel.

Late to the party, but the current answers don't really highlight a vital safety point for solo hikers.

The risks of solo hiking have been transformed by the advent of PLBs (Personal Location Beacons). These are handheld units that transmit your rescue request and precise location via satellite to an international Rescue Control Center which will quickly alert your local Search and Rescue service.

In the past, as a solo walker all you could do was leave your route. If you became incapacitated on a multi-day trip, it might take days before SAR were alerted, and additional time for them to find you. Now the rescue can be alerted literally within minutes and they know exactly where you are.

There is still the risk that you could become totally incapacitated and unable to activate the PLB, so it's still important to leave your route. But for the great majority of incidents a PLB will result in much quicker rescue, with much less inconvenience and risk to the SAR personnel.

If you are walking solo in wild country I feel that a PLB is pretty much a requirement these days, or at least a Garmin inReach (a less reliable but more versatile alternative). If you won't carry one for yourself and your loved ones, consider the SAR personnel who have to risk their lives and give up their time to find you.

Of course the PLB is no substitute for proper experience, planning and equipment as outlined in the other answers. But it is an important element of responsible back-country travel.

Late to the party, but the current answers don't really highlight a vital safety point for solo hikers.

The risks of solo hiking have been transformed by the advent of PLBs (Personal Location Beacons). These are handheld units that transmit your rescue request and precise location via satellite to an international Rescue Control Center which will quickly alert your local Search and Rescue service.

In the past, as a solo walker all you could do was leave your route. If you became incapacitated on a multi-day trip, it might take days before SAR were alerted, and additional time for them to find you. Now the rescue can be alerted literally within minutes and they know exactly where you are.

Of course there is still the risk that you could become totally incapacitated and unable to activate the PLB, so it's still important to leave your route. But for the great majority of incidents a PLB will result in much quicker rescue, with much less inconvenience and risk to the SAR personnel.

If you are walking solo in wild country I feel that a PLB is pretty much a requirement these days, or at least a Garmin inReach (a less reliable but more flexible alternative). If you won't carry one for yourself and your loved ones, consider the SAR personnel who have to risk their lives and give up their time to find you.

Late to the party, but the current answers don't really highlight a vital safety point for solo hikers.

The risks of solo hiking have been transformed by the advent of PLBs (Personal Location Beacons). These are handheld units that transmit your rescue request and precise location via satellite to an international Rescue Control Center which will quickly alert your local Search and Rescue service.

In the past, as a solo walker all you could do was leave your route. If you became incapacitated on a multi-day trip, it might take days before SAR were alerted, and additional time for them to find you. Now the rescue can be alerted literally within minutes and they know exactly where you are.

Of course there is still the risk that you could become totally incapacitated and unable to activate the PLB, so it's still important to leave your route. But for the great majority of incidents a PLB will result in much quicker rescue, with much less inconvenience and risk to the SAR personnel.

If you are walking solo in wild country I feel that a PLB is pretty much a requirement these days, or at least a Garmin inReach (a less reliable but more flexible alternative). If you won't carry one for yourself and your loved ones, consider the SAR personnel who have to risk their lives and give up their time to find you.

Of course the PLB is no substitute for proper experience, planning and equipment as outlined in the other answers. But it is an important element of responsible back-country travel.